Chapter 78 Underworlds
Zick had changed after becoming one with his broken side. Before on Earth, he was forced by the others to live as a loser. It was not his own will.
But in this world, Zick was free. There was almost nothing that was pressuring his mind excessively. There were worries about the demon Lord but it didn't reach the level where he could only concentrate on that one thing yet.
Right now, he might be working keeping the demon Lord as the aim in mind but that would change after finishing him off.
Zick had already felt some ambitions and aspirations appear within him. It came in the form of him taking over the underworld to gain influence. It was better than becoming a ruler too.
Zick wouldn't face any restrictions while he did all the things from the underworld. As long as he did all the things in the dark there shouldn't be any problem at all.
'I would at least have a base and influence after taking care of the demon lord.'
Though there were still many problems with it.
There were many flaws in Zick's plans in taking over the underworld in the second continent. He knew about some of the underworlds through the novel but after he takes over them, he would have to find the others out himself.
There was also the problem that would appear after taking control of an underworld. Who will take care of it?
No, even before that. Who could Zick trust upon to leave the underworld management to?
There were many businesses done by the underworld. Slave trade of every kind, gambling den, monster poaching....they were endless.
The second continent was different from the first continent. They were racist to the extreme, So slavery was a common act in there.
In the first continent's underworld, Slavery or any kind of illegal work is carried out very secretively.
He could leave it up to Butler Von but he would not be able to take care of multiple underworld. Even just taking care of one could be considered a challenging job. He himself didn't want to do such work too.
Though Zick didn't like carrying around people who he didn't have any trust in, it couldn't be helped this time. The people working for the underworld were necessary to keep it functioning.
But still Zick had already made up his mind on binding every last person working with the underworld with a oath or contract, even slavery seal would work. But that doesn't mean they were loyal to him, there would still be the threat of him being betrayed.
This betrayal would not damage him physically but instead affect his influence. He might just lose all the influence and political power he gained in a flash.
Zick knew that he only had one major flaw, He couldn't trust others. But he didn't plan on getting rid of this flaw, this way he would always be on guard against others.
Zick already had candidates to choose through the novel. But there was only one problem with it, almost all people who helped the protagonist of the novel were people either with morals or had kind personalities. So he had to choose after contemplating about them thoroughly.
Sitting upon the luxuries sofa, Zick continued staring at the painting on the wall, while still lost in his thoughts.
After Zick had considered all the problems, he could only find one answer.
'I will have to get subordinates who wouldn't betray me.....no, they shouldn't be able to betray me.....'
That could also be one of the reasons why he decided to make a connection with the underworld of the academic city. There was already a candidate he wanted to recruit there.
And he even needed monsters and humans for experiments that he wanted to perform.
Feeling the presence of Seveleen and Eleoner coming towards him, Zick put this train of thought at the back of his head temporarily.
Both of them entered the hall at once, seeing Zick sitting there without even a cup of tea made Seveleen involuntarily furrow her brow. Normally the temperament of people in the same standing as them act very conceited.
By now they would have already started to act all arrogant, treating the mansion as their own property. At least that was how it was for all the noble sons Seveleen met in the parties.
They would treat anyone in lower social status with disdain. Even the people in the same standing as them would be looked down upon internally.
So it was a new experience for Seveleen to meet someone like Zick. He was totally different from what she had imagined. According to the rumours, he had committed a massacre in the battlefield so she had thought of him as a bloodthirsty type or a cold blooded person.
But Seveleen's impression of Zick improved the moment she got to know that he helped her sister.
Walking in front of him, Seveleen took out a bronze ring and handed it over to him. It was a low rank space ring.
"Do you need any assistance in going back?"
"No....." Zick's voice trailed off as he was still looking at the content within the space ring.
Nodding her head, Seveleen extended her hand which was covered in black gloves towards Zick.
"I will be attending the academy this year too, let's meet in the new year beginning ceremony again" Seveleen spoke to Zick with a slight smile on her face.
Though it was called the new year beginning ceremony, it was more of a party where everyone could get to know each other. Not only students but all the professors and merchants with enough influence come there.
That is also the place where Zick plans on meeting the owner of the underworld.
"See you at the party then."
Getting up, Zick shakes hands with Seveleen and directly starts heading out of the mansion. He didn't bother saying anything else, he liked being straightforward like this. The servants offered their help in guiding him but he rejected them all.
Seveleen didn't stop him, Eleoner just waved her Hand saying "bye-bye!" at Zick's receding figure.
'thirty thousand platinum coins...' Zick was surprised by the Shivial family's generosity.
Getting out of the mansion, Zick walked towards the plaza he came from. He had only taken a few turns while heading towards here so he remembered them vividly. He walked leisurely without an ounce of urgency in it.
'Seveleen was just like how she was described in the novel.....'
Zick rummaged through his mind, and suddenly, he extracted a very old piece of information from the depths of his memories.
'Seveleen was the most rational among all the harem member of the protagonist. She was also the one with most ambition. It was her dream to become a Archmage.'
'Seveleen was seen as a perfect noble by everyone, she was a natural born talent. Being perfect in almost everything she did, there wasn't anything that a person could find fault in her. But she didn't care about it at all, she only wanted to reach the apex of the mage profession.....She didn't even get into an intimate relationship with the protagonist till the latter part of the novel.'
Zick brought a few more skewers and fruits as he walked towards the plaza. The protagonist must have already helped Erene if he appeared by now.
'I should just take a look before going to a mana train station.'
The feahert district wasn't too far from Zick's mansion. The feahert district was located in the south section of the academic city, while Zick mansion was in the west.